Thai babies get government gifts

By Tony Cheng
BBC News, Bangkok

There are worries that education standards are slipping

Thailand has introduced a scheme to stimulate the IQ of newborn children.

Parents will receive a gift set which includes items like plastic books and CDs of lullabies, designed to promote thought and mental stimulation.

Thailand's health ministry estimates 700,000 gift sets will be distributed per year, at a cost of $7.5m.

Launching the programme, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Thailand needed to create a generation of quick and clever minds.

The gift set contains a variety of items. A multi-coloured blanket made from different textiles is intended to promote sight and touch.

Soft toys are included to stimulate tactile nerves, as is a floating plastic book which can be safely read in the bath.

Concerns have been raised in recent years that standards of education in Thailand have been slipping.

A recent survey showed that children over 10 years old read less than three minutes a day.

The government is considering a book start project in which free books will be given to children of all ages.